Humidifier



f' Feb. si 1940. K A, HARMQN 2,189,003

'HUMIDIFIER Filed April 7, 193s INVENTOR Patented Feb. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES HUMIDIFIER Kenneth A. Harmon, Longmeadow, Mass., assignor to Wico Electric Company', West. Springfield, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application April 7, 193s, vserial Nq. 290,742

2 Claims.

a radiator, after the bonnet of such casing to-.

gether with the valve, the stem` whereof is mounted in the bonnet, has been removed. v

T'he invention also has for an object the provision of a humidifier in the nature of a waterjacketed steam dome or, more-particularly, a central steam dome structure surrounded by a Water chamber,

` The invention also has for `an object the proj vision of a humidifier which may be quickly and easily installed, even by the unskilled without thev use of special tools and Without requiring disconnection of the steam `piping or movement of the radiator. All that is necessary is to unscrew the aforesaid bonnetand to screw in the humidifier into the hole left by the re- 25, moval of the bonnet.

yThe invention also has for an object the provision of a humidifier having a steam dome for direct connection to the radiator inlet valve in such a way that the first steam entering from the inlet pipe will pass into the dome of the humidifier and initiate the vaporization of water prior to the heating up of the radiator.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the detailed description proceeds and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention will bev disclosed with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

The gure is an elevational view with parts in section, showing a humidifier, embodying the invention, applied to the inlet'valve of a radiator.

Referring to this drawing, a portion of the inlet end of a conventional form of steam radiator is shown at 5. The steam supply pipe is shown in part at 6, as connected to the lower end of a valve casing 1. The side outlet of casing 1 is connected by a union 8 with the inlet pipe 9 o-f the radiator. The casing .1 has the usual partition I0 with an opening II-therethrough. The usual valve, which controls this Opening I2 free to receive the humidifier of this invention. 4 l

The humidifier is essentially a water-jacketed steam dome. The dome comprises-an upstanding,'hollow member I3 of circular cross section 6 closed at its upper end by a hemispherical top I4. 'The lower end ofthe dome member' I3jis.` n threaded as at 4I5 to fit the opening I2 in'valve casing fI and has a flange IB-to abut the top wall of such casing. The chamber I'I within the dome l0 is open at its lower end and in constant communication with the interior of the valve casing. The open lower end of chamber I 'I lies directly above the inletpipe 6, so that steam rising through this pipe has a straight and direct 15' course through opening I I Aintothe open lower y end ofthe chamber II within the dome. So also the water of condensation in the dome has a direct vertically-downward path intolpipe 6.

The dome I3 is surrounded by a water space 20 I8 formed within a more or less cup-shaped member I9 whichr is integrally connected to the dome` near the lower end thereof. This member V I9 is vmade as large in diameter as it can be and still clear the end -wall of the radiator. The 25 walls of member I9 and of dome I3 are preferably .made thin and of good heat, conducting material, such. as aluminum for example. The design. is such that the parts described may be conveniently and economically formed by die 30 casting, leaving asV the only'machining operation the `formation of the threaded lower end I5.

A cover of any suitable form is usually provided. Thus, a metal cover 20 rests on the upper edge, of member I9 and is provided with a series 35 of lugs 2|l which extend inside member I9 to engage the inner wall thereof and hold the cover from lateral displacement; Cover 20 has a series of openings 2l therethrough to enable escape of vapor from chamber I8. The c'over is also 40 provided with a suitable handle, such as the knob 22. Y

To install the humidifier all that is necessary is to remove the bonnet of the valve casing and screw the threaded lower end I5 ofthe humidi- 45 fier into the threaded hole I2. 'I'he removal of the bonnet carries with it the valve and the stern thereof. An ordinary monkey wrench is the only tool needed for this work and the Work can readily be performed by anyone since it does 50 not require any special skill. It is .not necessary, as it is withsome of the prior art devices, to disconnect the steam piping and `move the radiator to enable insertion of the humidier between the valve and radiator.

The humidier, having been installed and chamber i8 filled with water, its operation commences immediately on the entrance of the first steam from inlet pipe 6. There is no delay. The first steam rises directly into the dome chamber i1 and evaporation of Water in chamber i8 soon proceeds. The location of the steam dome is yof special importance Where the humidier is used in connection With radiators Which `are supplied with steam by oil orgas fired boilers, automatically controlled by a thermostat. In suchcases, steam is supplied only intermittently to the radiator. intervals. At times, only part` of the radiator warms up. Therefore, for` u'vseQWith heating systems of this type, it is essential that the humidiiier receive an early and concentrated supply of steam and the described arrangement acc'omf'v plishes this purpose.

The humidier is designed to be highly'ecient as a Water evaporating means. There is direct thermal contact between the metal Walls 'of the humidifier and the' Water.` Also, such Walls are made very thin (fromto ese of an inch) and they are constructed of metal such as aluminum, which is a good conductor of heat. The steam -in the dome i 3 of Athe humidier 'is thus separadiatonheatingthe surrounding air 'and supl plementingto someextent the radiator.

Many times the steam is on .only for short The invention thus provides a humidier of simple construction, vcapable of being made by die casting and thus of being provided in quan- These humidiers maybe sold at low cost so as to be easily Within thev means of any householder who may thus purr tities at low unit cost.

chase as many as he requires for his living rooms and install ,theml himself. Thus, 'one Who is unable to afford a complete air conditioning irlstalla-tion, may for a few dollars secure many of the advantages of such an installation by the use i of a number `of thev humidiie-rs of this invention by their arrangement vand location are designed to receive a quick and concentrated application of steam to initiate the evaporation of Water at the very start of the Warming up of the radiator.

What I claim is:

1. Thecombination with the inlet valve casing of a radiator, said casing having an inlet and an outlet opening, of a hollow dome having a single opening, and so connected toy said casing that the opening of the dome lies opposite and in line with the inlet opening of said casing, and a Wall enf` the latcompassing said dome and forming-With ter a Water-receiving chamber.`

2. The combination vWith the casing of theinv let valve of a radiator, said casing having inlet 301` and outlet openings, and a third. opening usually closed by the bonnet of the valve, ofv a humidifier comprising a Water-jackete'd steam dome having a single openend connected to said third opening i to receive steam therefrom.

KENNETH A. HARMON. 

